Sell Your Home Faster

Home Preparation Basics

Repair all broken items. Take the time to make the small repairs around your home that you have been lagging on. Look around your home and try to imagine it from the buyers perspective. Taking the time to repair holes in the wall, replace broken windows, put some WD-40 on squeaky doors and make any necessary general repairs.

Make sure your windows are clean and functioning properly. Clean windows bring more light into your home and make smaller spaces look bigger.

To eliminate lingering bad odors, empty your garbage daily.

Remove all family photos to create space and cut down on clutter. Potential buyers will want to imagine their own things in your home and by eliminating personal mementos you give them the ability to place themselves into those spaces.

Create a welcoming fragrance in your home by using light scents to remove bad odors which may discourage potential buyers. Place a few candles around in strategic places like by the garbage in the kitchen, in bathrooms and entryways. Lighting them before a showing can create an enticing environment when entering the home, but, be careful not to overdo. Another idea: bake some cookies or bread prior to a showing.

Eliminate pet odors and keep pets, food and water dishes, and toys out of the way.

Keep your floors and walls sparkling clean by vacuuming carpets and hardwood floors, scrubbing and cleaning tiles and grout all over your house. This will be one example to buyers that your home is well taken care of.

Safety For Home Sellers

Store valuables for safekeeping.

Store prescription medications or any over-the-counter medications for safekeeping.

Keep all windows and doors closed.

If someone comes to your door and asks to see your home, let them know they need to make an appointment with an agent.

Low-Cost Ways to Make Your Home's Buyers Say WOW!

These quick and easy, low-cost strategies will help make your home more appealing and are sure to have your potential buyers saying WOW!

Staging Tips

Create more space in your house by either rearranging furniture or moving to other rooms.

Remove and store seasonal and seldom-used clothes from closets.

Rent a storage space. Remove all visible storage boxes from closets and garage.

Use mirrors generously. A mirror at the end of a long hallway makes the home look bigger. A mirror opposite the bathroom vanity pushes walls back and makes small bathrooms appear bigger.

Individual Room Checklists

Bathrooms

Wash the bathroom counters and clear any clutter. Place toothbrush(s), knickknacks, soap, razors and miscellaneous items in a drawer or cabinet.

Leave out a new bottle of hand soap or a clean bar of soap together with a hand towel.

Folding towels in thirds on the rack give a good impression. Purchase new towels if necessary.